Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-06-03

CraOrQlnary contest.
''Our correspondents will recollect that
we advised them in 1884, and frequently
since, to exchange their CoDsols and 10 40 g
for 3's by funding, or sale and purchase,
whichever was most advantageous. We
now repeat that advice. They have lost
heavily by DELAY and have nothing to gain
by waiting longer.
1.-THE contest has been long one, but
its result might have been anticipated by
any one who understood the power of the
State to control her revenues"
A NEW DEPARTURE OF THE
Y. N. g. Il.
Last Sunday evening at their Anniver-
sary meeting. the middle aged members of
the Y. M. G. A. by sudden capsizing of
the old custom, forced the helm into the
hands of the young men by electing one
President of the Association. For thir-
teen years these older members have
done the major part of the work, borne
the major part of the burden, and made
the maximum part of the sacrifices, to
bring the organization to what it is to-day.
They have good reason to look back at
their fight with pride; for 1t has been
fght-a fight with indifference, struggle
with careless Misrepresentation on the part
of the public of the aims Of the Associa-
ton, and with stolid lack of apprecia-
ton of the fact that the organization was
a real, tangible one and had real and
practical work in the world to accomplish.
For the Young Mems Christvian.tA Asssocia-
tion is as practical an organization and
has as practical work as business house
a fire company. a police force, city
council, bank, or anything else that
makes cog in the wheel of affairs. The
election of its President Sunday evening
was as important as the election of city
council, for it teaches and fits men to be
worthy of public trusts, and its followed
teachings equip them for conservative
and honest discharge OF public duties; it
WAS as important as the election of police
force, for its influence for good makes
every man his own policeman and law
abiding citizen-in short it was as impor-
tant as any other election. the result of
which might affect the welfare of town.
aged helmsmen of the Association have
made, is that this practical value is be-
ginning to dawn On the public mind
though the day has been long in breaking
on their view, and the night-watch of these
men has been often discouraging. Many
of them have grown gray in the strife, but
over their grey hairs they wear the laurel
they have won. In thirteen years they
have established strong Association both
in numbers and character they have
gathered a large library; they have gather
ed together good building fund; they
have added that most important arm of
the service Ladies' Auxiliary; and they
are about to add to the staff that most i'm
portant member, and chief of staff,
General Secretary. Having put the ship
on this sure and safe course they can now
well afford to put younger man at the
helm, while with undiminished solicitude
for the voyage they keep an advisory out
look on the weather and cast the lead for
s0undl1gs now and then.
This change they have long had in an
ticipat1on. but it has been hard to get the
young men to come to the front; even last
Sunday when the determination of the
oldsters was evident, the Youngsters tried to
fight it off on the plea that more expert
enced heads ought to have control. But
the day of responsibility had been put off
on that plea long enough, and the official
burden was shifted in spite of the modest
protests. The young gentleman elected
is most admirably suited for the duties
of the position, and we know of none bet
ter qualified that could have been chosen.
He is an enthusiastic Z. M. c. A. man,
and in him the new General Secretary will
find an Efficient, sympathetic and earnest
co-laborer. About the new Secretary from
the Y. M. g. A. training school, we wish
to express the hope that the men of the
community generally, in or out of the
Association, will welcome him-that sort
of welcome that will show him at the
beginning Of his work that he is among
people who sympathize with the cause he
is engaged in.
AS we have said, the effect of the Y. M.
G. A. on the community has been as prac-
tical and tangible as any other work done
by public organization, and the city has
benefited by it. The time and opportuni-
ty have now. come for the community to
make practical return for it. For thir-
teen years the members of that organiza-
tion have kept it up at their own expense.
They have opened public library, free
reading room and kept up an UNI
broken series of meetings for the improve
ment of the young men They have
furnished the money for these things
without the hope or desire Of reward
They will shortly ask, not reward or
repayment, but that the community shall
benefit itself by enabling them to broaden
their work for its good, and by giving it a
location of its own add to It's facilities.
That the obligation on the part of our
people is clear; that it is to their business
interest is clear; but still clearer is it that
it is for the people and not for the Associ-
ton that the new building is to be erected
And that is the view that ought to appeal
to any man whose good offices may be
solicited in its behalf.
THE COTNTY Ell ECTJON